Rhea Ripley addresses eating disorder struggles
Rhea Ripley’s physique transition was a highly discussed topic among social media in recent weeks. Ripley responded to a fitness influencer’s Instagram post questioning her training impacting muscle mass. She commented that it was an eating disorder which she was working to control.
Speaking on Pod Meets World Ripley addressed the social media environment that disturbs her peace at times. She discussed the mental toll it takes on her but has a strong backing in her husband Buddy Matthews, close friends and her dogs.
“It goes through waves where it’s really difficult and then sometimes really easy. This past year has been really difficult because I find that if my circle at home isn’t at peace, then that’s when I really struggle. That’s why I try to surround myself with people that I know are there for me and care for me. That’s my strong point. My husband [Buddy Matthews] is my strong point. My dogs are my strong point. My friend Tommy, who is always at our house every day, he’s my strong point. We work out together and it’s a positive environment. It’s really hard going onto Twitter. I need to delete that. It’s hard going on and trying to make it a work environment, but then, because it is a work environment, I get all these things coming up on my For You page. As soon as I click on the app, it’s negative towards me. I can’t even escape it or doomscroll like a normal human without seeing things about me, about my body, about my booking, about me as a human, even though they don’t know who the hell I am. It does get really tiring, but that’s also why I like to share what I’m going through.”
Ripley explained she had no intention of making her eating disorder public, but felt that if she could help someone in a similar situation, it was worth sharing. Ripley had a response for social media users claiming her transition was due to back pain and going off steroid use – that wrestlers get tested and she was not consuming anything of the sort.
“I tried to keep the whole eating disorder quiet for a while because I’m still figuring it out. I try to be as vocal with my struggles as possible because if it’s going to help someone, then why not talk about it? I needed that when I was going through stuff as a kid. If I knew my idols were going through these struggles and they are powering through and being amazing, and I look up to them and think they are strong and larger than life, then I can get through it too. That’s why I’m vocal about what I’m going through. With this whole eating situation, it definitely stems from stress and not being in control. That’s my biggest thing. I’m a very in control person. I like being in control of a lot of things. When I can’t control work and my schedule, and at the time, my home life with one of my now ex-friends just terrorizing my life,” said Ripley.
“Going to Australia and not being able to control how the crowd responds to my peers and pressuring them 24/7 and getting thrown into all this media for that, it was a lot all at once, and it kind of broke me for a little bit, but it wasn’t seen by everyone yet. Now, it’s being seen by everyone. I saw so many things. ‘She had to lose weight because of her back pain.’ ‘She’s off the roids.’ We get tested. I’m not on anything.”
Ripley has often called out fan behaviour on social media. Last year, there was an incident of fan mail sent to her home, despite her specifically stating she does not approve of it. During WWE’s Paris tour, Ripley was mobbed by fans wanting autographs and photos, she took to X with a stern message about common courtesy and how wrestlers are people too.
Ripley will compete in her seventh WrestleMania match this weekend as she faces Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship.
Rosanne Raphael is a wrestling writer with over three and a half years of experience covering all things related to the industry. From a kindergarten teacher to PR Associate to turning her lifelong passion for the industry into a career, Rosanne is currently writing for F4W Online where she focuses on wrestling news, analysis, and storytelling.
Rosanne previously contributed to Sportskeeda as an Assistant Content Manager.
When not consumed by wrestling, Rosanne is a musician and an aspiring artist.